The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) opened, this Thursday (13), an administrative procedure to investigate the causes of the collapse of historic buildings after the landslide of part of Morro da Forca, in the city of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais.
“Given the obvious damage to the cultural heritage [o conjunto arquitetônico de Ouro Preto foi declarado patrimônio mundial pela Unesco em 1980], the MPF will investigate the circumstances in which the fact took place and ask for clarifications from the bodies involved in the protection of said assets as to the reason for the incident, the extent of the damage and its effects.
In a letter sent to the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan), the MPF requests that the damage caused be presented, that it be indicated whether there are other properties at risk and the measures that will be taken for the historic preservation of the place.
The agency also asked the Municipality of Ouro Preto for information about the collapse of the slope, as well as the measures adopted to prevent future damage and whether there is a risk of a new subsidence.
The mayor of Ouro Preto, Ângelo Oswaldo (PV), stated, in an interview with CNN, that the accident “hit two houses that had been closed for a few years, because this area is at risk”.
According to Oswaldo, the largest mansion reached by land had been built in 1906, and was one of the first neocolonial architectural constructions in the city. The other property was more recent and served as a commercial warehouse.
The local chief executive also explains that there is a historical concern with the city’s geology. “Our soil offers many risks because we have the possibility of landslides in various sectors of the city, which is inside a large canyon. A gorge formed by two mountain ranges. So we are always very careful.”
“Ouro Preto has a geological map made by technicians that shows all the risk points in the city. This is monitored by our Civil Defense”, he added.
Reference: CNN Brasil
